1st AD’s

George Trummler

1ST AC

George started out as a personal assistant in the film industry, working hard to prove himself as he climbed the industry ladder on film sets around the world, including London, New York and Germany. Along the way, George worked on hundreds of big brand television commercials and has racked up an impressive show reel in the film industry, having worked as 3rd Assistant Director on Star Wars V11, as 2nd Director on Hollywood blockbuster, The Bourne Supremacy, Fast & Furious 7, horror film and Deliver us from Evil and most recently, as 3rd Assistant Director on Star Trek Beyond which was released in July 2016. As an experienced Director, George hopes to direct a Hollywood feature film himself in the future.

Roger Schram

1ST AC, CAM OP

Roger has worked full-time in the film industry since relocating to the UAE in January 2008, where he started his career as a trainee in Filmquip Media’s Camera Department. After spending one year working as a VT Operator, Roger quickly moved into Clapper Loading and 2nd Camera Assisting before creating a reputation in the industry as one of the UAE’s top 1st Camera Assistant. Roger has since worked consistently with some of the biggest production houses in Dubai, securing himself an impressive credit list, which includes a host of television commercials and most recently, his work as 1st AC on Hollywood blockbuster, Star Trek Beyond.

Glen Donaldson

1ST AC, CAM OP AND UNDERWATER CAM OP

Starting his career as a trainee Clapper Loader in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1981, Glen spent seven years working through the ranks, progressing next to Focus Puller and then Camera Operator where he spent decades working with and learning from Academy Award winning and nominated Directors of Photography including David Watkins, Mikael Salomon, Katheryn Bigelow and Jerry Zucker. Glen has worked on a copious amount of international and local television commercials as well as a number of music videos, feature films and documentaries during his epic 29 years in the film industry. Glen has also worked with an impressive list of internationally acclaimed commercial directors including Tony Kay, Ashley Lazerus, Keith Rose, Mathias Zenttner and Mile Goodall and combining this incredible background, brings with him a wealth of experience to any camera crew he works with.

Ayub Khan

1ST AC AND CAM OP

Ayub joined Media Crew in 2000 and was trained within the company, working his way up the ladder successfully, even being considered the number 1 choice as a loader within Dubai’s film industry. His credits include hundreds of television commercials and feature films including work on The Kingdom, City of Life, 2011’s Sea Shadow, The Bourne Legacy, Djinn, the 2013 horror film produced by Abu Dhabi’s Image Nation and directed by Hollywood’s Tobe Hooper and Hollywood blockbuster, Fast & Furious 7, which was released globally in 2015. Ayub is an asset to any film crew thanks to the dedication he gives to each project while his calm and professional nature on set allows him to consistently create work of an exceptional standard. During his years in the UAE, Ayub has worked in the majority of GCC countries as well as in Kenya, Sudan, Seychelles and various parts of the USA.

Candace Higgins

1ST AC AND CAM OP

Born in the USA, Candace spent years working in Los Angeles before moving to Qatar where she continued working on a number of television commercials and feature films. Candace moved to Dubai and joined Media Crew in 2015.

Graham Almeida

2ND CAM ASSIS

Born in Sri Lanka, Graham’s passion and talent for film making was clear with him having shot, directed and edited over 20 short films and music videos before he even graduated from the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 2010. Graham joined Media Crew as a trainee within the Camera Department, starting as a VT Operator before working his way up to 2nd Camera Assistant. Graham’s career highlights so far include Fast & Furious 7 and Star Trek Beyond.

Walid Baalini

2ND CAM ASSIS

Walid began his career as a VT Operator before working his way up to 2nd Camera Assistant within the Media Crew Camera Department. He has worked on hundreds of television commercials both locally and internationally and most recently completed working as a 2nd Camera Assistant on Jackie Chan’s latest movie, Kung Fu Yoga.

Veera Ovaska

2ND CAM ASSIS

Originally from Helsinki, Finland, Veera has worked as part of the Media Crew team for five years and holds an impressive resume that includes work on Hollywood blockbusters, Star Wars: Episode V11 – The Force Awakens, Fast & Furious 7 and Star Trek Beyond where she worked within the VFX Department.

Mohamed Assam

2ND CAM ASSIS

Assam is a passionate and technically talented 2nd cam assistant. He has 6 years experience in the industry and has worked on numerous TVC’s, short films, documentaries and features.

William Ferguson

VT AND 2ND CAM ASSIS

Originally from the UK, William moved to Dubai in 2014 where he joined Media Crew as a VT Operator. He has worked on a copious amount of television commercials both internationally and locally and as well as on a number of major Hollywood hits including as a VT Assistant on Star Trek Beyond and as a Trainee Camera Assistant on Brad Pitt’s newest film, War Machine on 2014. William works on hard on each project to help him achieve his dream of becoming a Director of Photography.

Ethan Schaeffer

VT Operator and Q-Take Operator

Ethan has spent five years perfecting his skills as a VT Operator and Q-Take Operator, starting his career in a documentary and corporate filmmaking environment as an assistant to the in-house Director of Photography and running the daily operations of a camera rental house where he became proficient on most high end digital camera systems and small broadcast operations. His love and passion for filmmaking grew and he made the decision to start working on large sets within the video department, paying special interest to the technical aspects of on-set video engineering and Q-Take Operation. His experience thus far is impressive with his showreel including work on a variety of local and international feature films including most recently, on Hollywood blockbuster, Star Trek Beyond and Brad Pitt’s War Machine as a VT. Other highlights include his work as a 2nd Unit, 2nd AC on Kanye West’s 2012 Project X/Cruel Summer, Video Assistant on the 2014 short film, Family Tree, Video Assistant on the local feature, Zinzana, released in 2015 and as a 2nd AC on 2015’s A Beautiful Mess. Ethan has also worked on a variety of television commercials for big brands including Jaguar, Coca Cola, Honda, Pizza Hut, Mountain Dew, Quakers, Emaar and Dubai Tourism.

Rania Ajjour

Rania is a line producer with credits including the short film ‘A Tree In The Sea’ and big brand commercials including Ford Edge, Chevrolet and Lays.

Rania’s strong leadership, management and financial skills make her a great addition to your team.

Rania is fluent in Arabic, French and English. Rania rocks!

Chris Bushek

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Chris is a highly experienced production manager with experience ranging from commericals to feature films.

He has production managed hundreds of TV commericals for major brands including Etislasat and many high profile car commercials.

Last year he was part of the ‘Star Trek Beyond’ production team.

Mario Calcagni

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Mario is an experienced production co-ordinator ,locations assistant and 2nd AD.
Feature film credits include the new Jackie Chan movie ‘ Kung Fy Yoga’ and he was part of the production team for Star Wars.

AJ Abi Chaine

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

AJ is super awesome!

He spent most of last year working on the highly anticipated ‘Star Trek Beyond’ movie. As well as features experience, he has numerous credits for major TV commericals.

Marianne Thomas

Marianne has worked in the film industry for 6 years and is an experienced production co-ordinator and junior production manager.

Her experiences includes international features, tv series, reality tv and tv commercials.

Marianne is fantastic at organizing, planning and executing production logistics and running the day to day workings of a production office.

She has worked internationally, including shoots in India, Dubai and the UK and has an impressive credit list ranging from the Fast & Furious 7, Star Wars V11 feature films and TV commericals for Samsung, McDonalds , Audi and CNN.

Liam Meyer

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Liam is an energetic and hard working crew member that shows a passion for every project he is faced with. He relocated to the middle east from South Africa in 2009 and has since built up an impressive credit list in both television commercials and feature films. As a co-ordinator he spent the last year working with National Geogrphic on their hit observational documentary series ‘Ultimate Airport’.

Film credits include Fast & Furious 7, Mission Impossible 4 and ‘The Bourne Legacy in the AD departments and most recently on the soon to be released ‘War Machine’ in the locations department

Liam is an experienced co-ordinator, 2nd AD and locations assistant. He is an asset to any film set.

Saul Barran

Digital Imaging Technician

British-born Saul, who also speaks French and Portuguese, has extensive experience in the local and international film industry, having worked on a copious amount of feature films and television commercials during his years working as a Digital Imaging Technician. His film credits including the Mission Impossible movie teaser as well as Forget Me Not, Sea Shadow which was released in 2011 and directed by Emirati, Nawaf Al-Janahi, Les Salauds and short films, Al Sarab and Kanye West’s 2012 Cruel Summer. Saul has also worked on hundreds of big brand television commercials as well as various dramas.

Simon Cave

GAFFER

South African-born Simon, who is one of Media Crew’s most experienced gaffers, began his film career working for Filmafrica as a Production Assistant on the film, Ghost and the Darkness in 1994. From here, Simon spent the six years working on a profuse number of commercials for local and international brands in South Africa while being trained in the lighting department under Merlin Van Staden. In 2004, Simon worked as Best Boy on the Oscar-winning film Totsi, as a Gaffer on Darryl Rooit’s Faith’s Corner and as a Spark on the Hollywood film, Hotel Rwanda. Moving to Dubai in 2004, Simon began working for Filmworks as its in-house Gaffer and Lighting Manager before joining Media Crew. Simon has worked predominantly on television commercials while in the UAE however, has still managed to rack up an incredible resume as a film Gaffer, working on the Hollywood blockbusters, Mission Impossible 4, Star Trek Beyond and the films, The Kingdom, City of Life and Djinn, the 2013 horror film produced by Abu Dhabi’s Image Nation and directed by Hollywood’s Tobe Hooper.

Nasser Mohammed

GAFFER

Hailing from Bombay’s colourful Bollywood film industry, Nasser has worked in film since 1997 where he started working on various feature films as a Spark. In 1999, Nasser moved into position of best boy, where he continued to work on a variety of feature films as well as on a number of television commercials. Seeking exposure and experience on a more international platform, Nasser moved to Dubai in 2004 where he has been working consistently as a gaffer on television commercials.

Bart Perez

GAFFER

Spanish-born Bart started his career in the film industry as a Camera Assistant and has grown an incredible passion for film ever since. After working extensively in the camera and lighting departments, Bart started working as a Gaffer and after gaining extensive experience as a Lighting Technician, Rigger and Gaffer, he carved out a reputable name for himself in this field in a variety of countries including the UAE. Bart has a strong background in Photography and Cinematography and he has combined this full spectrum of experience to work on a variety of film projects. Bart moved to Dubai in 2009 where he has worked on a number of television commercials and feature films including, most recently, Brad Pitt’s War Machine in 2015. During Bart’s film career, his adventurous spirit has taken him around the world to work on a host of impressive films including,
Deliver Us From Evil and The Cold Light of Day as well as on television productions including Mad Dogs, Spain On The Road Again and Plaza Alta.

Andrej Arnautov

GAFFER

Originally from the Czech Republic , Andrej started his career in 2004 when he worked on Van Helsing as a trainee in the lighting department.

He’s been in Dubai for 6 years and has and has maintained an impressive credit list on feature films and interntional TVC’s as a best boy and now as a gaffer.

Andrej also specialisies in balloon lighting and was the balloon light supervisor on the ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ movie and also ‘Dishoom’ the new Bollywood blockbuster.

Armando John Cruz

BEST BOY GAFFER

John has worked in the film industry, as a gaffer, best boy and spark for over 15 years. He has worked on hundreds of television commercials, corporate films, short films and Hollywood features. His expertise, professional attitude, people skills and work ethic make him a popular crew member on set.

Dave Parsons

BEST BOY GAFFER AND SPARK

Dave is a best boy gaffer and spark. He’s worked on a range of TV commericals and features.

Ruel Villalobos

SPARK

Credits include numerous TVC’s, music videos and feature films. Last year Ruel worked on both ‘Star Trek Beyond’ and ‘War Machine’.

Sardar Mohammed

SPARK

Like all our lighting crew, Sardar has worked on hundreds of commericals, music videos and features.

Ghaffar Ali

SPARK

Lighting crew

Tasleem 'Kashi' Ahmed

SPARK

Known to us as ‘Kashi’, he has worked on numerous TVC’s, corporates, short films and features.

Pradeep Liyanage

SPARK

Pradeep has been in our lighting crew for two years. He has worked on commericals, music videos, features. Pradeep also hold an IPAF licence.

Ian ‘Tigger’ Mussell

HEAD OF GRIPS

In 2000, Tigger worked as the Crane Operator on an international hit film, with Panavision and has maintained an incredible credit list since, becoming known internationally, as one of the best in his industry. Tigger has extensive experience working with remote heads, gyrostabillised remote heads, tracking vehicles, fixed arm cranes and telescopic cranes. Since 2009 Tigger has worked on a host of major Hollywood hits including Mission Impossible 4, City of Life, The Bourne Legacy, Deliver Us From Evil, Fast & Furious 7 , Bang Bang, Star Wars V11 – The Force Awakens, Time & Being and most recently, on Star Trek Beyond and Brad Pitt’s War Machine as well as on commercials for big brands including Porsche, Ferrari. BMW and Rolex.

Boris Olomi

KEY GRIP

Based in Dubai since 2005, German-born and raised Boris, is considered one of Filmquip Media’s most experienced and versatile technicians. After completing his training as a certified mechanic in 1992, Boris opened his own workshop in Berlin and in 1998 was hired to do vehicle testing for the German government. Here, he was exposed to the film industry and gained incredible experience in camera cars, trailers, cranes and film specific rigging, so beginning his career within the film industry.

Since then, Boris has worked as a key grip on hundreds of high profile television commercials and films including Fast & Furious 7, Star Wars and War Machine, while he was Best Boy Grip on the Hollywood hit, Star Trek Beyond.

Boris’s reputation as a key grip, best boy grip, precision driver and tracking vehicle driver has made him a highly desirable key grip within the UAE industry and internationally.

Sulaman Ashraf

BEST BOY GRIP

Sulaman has been working in the film industry for 9 years.

With the grips dept here, he has worked on huge features and hundreds of TVC’s.

Joshi Dambar

Joshi has worked in the film industry for over 10 years. He is an experienced grip and crane op with experience on hundreds of international TV commericals and feature films.

Joshi holds an IPAF operator licence.

Jeremy Connell

BEST BOY GRIP, GRIPS ASSISTANT

Originally from South Africa, Jeremy has been working in the film industry for 9 years.

As part of the grips crew, his credits include Kung Fu Yoga, the new Jackie Chan movie, Dishoom, the new Bollywood bloackbuster, Star Trek Beyond, Furious 7, Bang Bang as well as hundreds of international television commercials.

Jeremy is an experienced best boy grip, flight head, remote head and technocrane operator.

Dana Louw

GRIPS ASSISTANT

Originally from South Africa, Dana joned media crew in 2015 having met our grips team whilst working on Star Trek Beyond in Dubai.

Dana is spent many years working in lighting but crossed over to the grips side and never left.

Dana has an IPAF operator licence.

Daniel Ibeabuchi

GRIPS ASSISTANT

Daniel is a grips assistant. He has been working with media crew for 4 years.

He’s worked on numerous TVC’s and some big features including the new Star Trek Beyond movie.

Daniel has a IPAF operator licence.

Chris Harker

KEY GRIP

Chris is a highly skilled key grip with an impressive credit list.

He’s worked on hundreds of TVC’s and a number of feature films.

Logan Marsden

GRIPS ASSISTANT

Logan joined the grips team last year and has already worked on a number of TV commercials and even a Top Gear car shoot for the new BBC series.

Angela Schnoeke - Paasch

Wardrobe / Costume Designer

German native, Angela, made a name for herself as a Hollywood-based wardrobe stylist before moving to Dubai in 2007. Angela found her reputation as a film Costume Designer for both local and international films growing rapidly alongside the UAE’s burgeoning film industry with her back catalogue of films boasting lead work on cinema releases including Fast & Furious 7 and the soon to be released, Star Trek Beyond. Angela’s CV also boasts the incredible array of local work she has done, having worked on Ali Mostafa’s film, City of Life, released in 2010, Sea Shadow which was released in 2011 and directed by Emirati, Nawaf Al-Janahi, and Djinn, the 2013 horror film produced by Abu Dhabi’s Image Nation and directed by Hollywood’s Tobe Hooper.

Rifka Abraham

Make-Up Artist

With 14 years in the fashion industry, Rifka has utilised her innovative and artistic talents to leave her mark on every project she’s worked on, whether that be fashion shows, television series, television commercials, stills campaigns, look books, local and international editorials or in retail establishments. She has worked closely with a host of local celebrities including Jason Derulo, Sarah McLachlan, Ronan Keating, Kool & the Gang and Nile Rodgers and considers her opportunity to work as Oscar Winner, Sir Ben Kingsley’s Personal Stylist and Makeup Artist for a three-day period, a career highlight. Rifka was also part of the core makeup team for the Hollywood hit, Fast & Furious 7 where she worked with Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Michelle Rodrigues, and is regularly flown across the world as the personal makeup artist for members of Dubai’s Royal Families as well as the Queen Rania of Jordan.

Rakel Ottesen

Make-Up Artist

Having graduated at the top of her class from the acclaimed Joe Blasco Make-Up School in Orlando, Florida in 2008, Rakel began her career working as the youngest make-up artist to have ever worked at Iceland’s second biggest TV Channel, Channel 2. She then spent the next 11 years developing her supreme make-up skills while working in the HD television, film, photographic and commercial industries on major local and global projects including Icelandic Idol, Icelandic X-Factor, and the Eurovision Pre-Show as well as heading up the make-up team for BBC News and Sky News’ live broadcasts and a variety of big brand television series in Dubai. Rakel has also worked extensively with the Icelandic president and government at press conferences, television shows and campaigns.

Martin Sullivan

ART DESIGNER AND ART DIRECTOR

Martin spent 1987 – 2007 working between film industry hot spots, London and Los Angeles before moving to the UAE in 2008 where he carved out a reputable name for himself as an expert in the film industry, working as Set Designer and Art Director on a variety of big brand commercials, international music videos and high profile Hollywood feature films. Highlights on Martin’s CV include work with Elton John, U2, Sting and Fleetwood Mac while stand out films that he’s worked on while in the UAE include Fast & Furious 7, Sony Picture’s feature film Deliver Us From Evil, directed by Scott Derickson, Emirati Director, Nawaf Al-Janahi’s Sea Shadow released in 2011, Tobe Hooper’s feature film, Djinn, and most recently Brad Pitt’s most recent film, War Machine.

ABE EL HABASHY

Art Director and Props Master

Abe is a highly accomplished art director and props master. He has an impressive list of feature film credits including ‘War Machine’ (assistant art director), Star Wars – The Force Awakens (assistant props master) and has been the art director on major TV commercials including Toyota Yaris (Cristiano Ronaldo) Samsung and Mercedes. His prop master credits include Nestle, Pizza Hut and C4 idents. Check out his work via the below link.

Shane Virgin

Locations Manager and 1st AD

Born in South Africa, Shane’s in-depth knowledge of the local and international film industries, combined with his highly motivated, deadline-oriented and hardworking character traits makes him one of the strongest players within the UAE field.

He moved to the UAE eight years ago, after having spent years working as a location manager on thousands of international television commercials as well as feature films including Blood Diamond.

Shane moving to the UAE, he has since added an impressive list of TVC’s to his resume including Nivea, Mercedes Benz and Cadillac and feature films including, Deliver Us from Evil, Sea Shadow, The Fall, Amelia and Doomsday.

His location management experience in the middle east has seen him gain an enviable reputation as one of the best in the industry. His sought-after experience includes setting up, facilitating and managing feature films and location scouts and running both the units and location budgets , dealing with government representatives and major companies while successfully managing the filming locations.

Shane is also a highly experienced 1st Assistant Director and has achieved a fantastic reputation for himself within this field.

Nuwan De Zoysa

Locations & Unit Manager

From 2008-2011 Nuwan worked for Filmworks as a location assistant and unit manager. Since then he his experience as a locations manager reaches from feature films, music videos, events and tv commericals in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Sri Lanka.

Notable film credits include Fast & Furious 7, Mission Impossible 4’ and ‘Star Trek Beyond’ where he worked in the locations departments.

Nuwan has worked on over 100 big brand tv commercials including Range Rover, Chevrolet, Emirates airlines, Adidas and Nike.

Simon Charles

Sound Recordist

Simon has an extensive knowledge in all aspects of sound thanks to his many years spent working on a variety of media including television commercials, short films and features, television series, reality series, documentaries, and theatre productions in London’s highly acclaimed West End, as well as audio post production on all of these mediums. His in-depth knowledge of sound equipment and his desire to provide professional sound services for film, television, commercial and corporate productions ensures his professional kit is always stocked with equipment featuring the latest technology and high quality brands including Sound Devices, Sennheiser, WisyCom, Sanken, Sony and DPA. His in-depth knowledge of high-end equipment, combined with his contagious passion and unrivaled expertise ensure that Simon will always provide professional sound production regardless of whether he is filming in a studio or in a more challenging work environment. Simon has worked on award winning documentaries including Nujoom Al Ghanem’s Nearby Sky, which won ‘Best Documentary Film’ at the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) in 2014 as well as on a X Factor Australia and a variety of TV commercials for brands including Coca Cola, Nokia, Samsung, Pizza Hut and Santander.

Harvey Glen

DOP

Harvey Glen is an accomplished Director of Photography with over 17 years experience behind the lens.
His career has taken him to all continents on the globe filming across a wide range of genres from channel Idents in South Africa to Commercials in Jordan and Dubai, Comedies series in the UK and Los Angeles, worldwide documentaries and feature films in India.

Riki Butland

DOP

Rikki is a highly accomplished DOP and director with an incredible credit list. Feature credits include ‘Star Trek Beyond’ and ‘Fast and Furious 7’. He has an equally impressive commercial credit list including many luxury and major brands including Bvlgari, Etihad and Burger King.

Michael Lagerwey

Tanya Rex

PHOTOGRAPHER

Originally from South Africa, Tanya began her career in the fashion and film industry as a prosthetic and special effects make up artist in 1999. Her love of beauty and passion for photography increased over the span of 12 years until finally in 2011, Tanya decided to turn her passion into her business.